Tennis clubs across Shropshire are ready to open their doors for the first Great British Tennis Weekend of 2015.
Free tennis will be on offer at a number of venues in the county this Saturday and Sunday, May 16 and 17, as part of the LTA driven initatitive to encourage more people of all ages to pick up a racket and give tennis a go. Rackets and balls will be provided.
"It's a venture which is now in its third year where clubs across the county, across the country, open their doors and encourage people to get involved," said Bob Kerr, vice-chairman of Tennis Shropshire.
"Long gone are the days where people have to play in tennis whites and everyone stops for tea. Tennis is now probably one of the most inclusive sports and there are facilities for people to play for literally no cost at all.
"Most local authorities have park sites with tennis courts and people can go along and use them free. The Great British Tennis Weekends – and this is the first of three this year – are a great opportunity for us to showcase the sport.
"Last year we had more than 20 clubs in Shropshire taking part and opening their doors for the Great British Tennis Weekends, and we're hoping for a similar number this year. This weekend's gets the season off to a great start.
"People can just come along and choose which particular aspect they would like to get involved in. There's mini-tennis for juniors, coaching for adults, family fun sessions and cardio tennis for those that enjoy a work out.
"It may be there are senior players who want to dust off their skills perhaps having not played the sport for 20 years, but this gives them an ideal chance to give tennis a go again."
As well as the local clubs which are making their facilties available this weekend, there is a special event planned for Southwater in Telford town centre on Saturday from 11am to 3pm.
Bob added: "To coincide with the first Great British Tennis Weekend, we will have the Tennis Factory equipment on hand, which is always good fun for people of all ages, and it's a chance for the clubs in the Telford area, along with the tennis centre in Telford, to take the sport to the people.
"We'll have an exhibition area where people can have a go and come along and try tennis. It will be situated outside Meeting Point House in Telford, which is part of the new Southwater complex."
Elsewhere, there's free tennis on Saturday at Cound Tennis Club (10am-noon), The Shrewsbury Club (1-3pm), Shifnal Tennis Club (10am-2pm), Newport's Boughey Gardens Tennis Club (10am-4pm) and Whitchurch's Hollies Tennis Club (2-4pm).
Sunday sees more clubs getting involved with the chance to play free offered by Cound Tennis Club (11am-noon), Church Stretton Lawn Tennis Club (10am-1pm), Telford Community Tennis Club at Bowring (9am-2pm), Broseley Tennis Club (2-4pm), Shifnal Tennis Club (10am-2pm), Oswestry Tennis Club (11am-1pm), Market Drayton Tennis Club (10am-4pm) and Whitchurch's Hollies Tennis Club (10am-4pm).
Pictured: Getting ready for the first Great British Tennis Weekend of the year is young Leo Stevens at Telford Community Tennis Club at Bowring Park.
Editor is the team behind Love Shrewsbury keeping you up to date with news and events.
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